The Global Women Network of Peacebuilders (GNWP) urges a nationwide ceasefire in Afghanistan and an immediate cessation of violence. As the country faces an escalating human rights crisis and humanitarian catastrophe, we call on all parties to ensure respect for women’s human rights and protect women and youth peacebuilders, human rights defenders, journalists, and activists facing threats and violence.
Perpetuating oppressive gender roles is central to the Taliban’s governance vision. Therefore, the Taliban’s return to power has begun to derail gains in gender equality and the protection of women’s rights in Afghanistan. Despite their marginalization from the failed Intra-Afghan Peace Process, women have played a pivotal role in building sustainable peace in Afghanistan. The rights of Afghan women, youth, and other historically marginalized groups must be protected and preserved. Their leadership must be recognized, amplified, and supported in any peacebuilding or humanitarian response to the crisis. GNWP calls on the Taliban to adhere to international humanitarian law, which prohibits attacks on civilians and women’s rights.
GNWP stands in solidarity with the people of Afghanistan, especially grassroots women and youth peacebuilders. We echo their calls for:
Immediate action to protect women and women’s rights through:
An immediate cessation of all hostilities, nationwide ceasefire, and adherence with international humanitarian law;
Immediate support for the evacuation of Afghans who are at heightened risk of persecution by the Taliban, particularly women and youth human rights defenders, peacebuilders, journalists, and activists, through the provision of emergency visas and transportation; and the cessation of deportations of asylum seekers; and
Protection of the rights of women, youth, LBGTQIA+ persons, and all other historically marginalized groups, particularly human rights defenders, peacebuilders, journalists, and activists, including through the provision of safe houses and relief and recovery services for survivors of gender-based violence and uninhibited access to education and healthcare.
Gender-responsive humanitarian action through:
Immediate, safe, and unfettered access for humanitarian actors aiding across conflict lines through the establishment of humanitarian corridors; and
A significant increase in funds for the Humanitarian Appeal for Afghanistan and flexible, direct, and rapid funding to frontline local civil society organizations responding to the urgent needs of women and other historically marginalized groups impacted by armed conflict, the COVID-19 pandemic, and the ongoing drought.
Establishment of an inclusive national reconciliation process through:
The establishment of an inclusive, Afghan-led, Afghan-owned process of national reconciliation for an inclusive, just, durable, realistic, and sustainable political settlement that ensures the full, equal, and meaningful participation of women, young people, and all other historically marginalized groups;
Gender-responsive investigative processes, including those to be established by the United Nations Human Rights Council, to document and prosecute all war crimes and crimes against humanity; and
A renewal of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan and strengthening UN’s presence with a robust mandate and adequate technical and financial capacities to protect the rights of women, girls, and other vulnerable groups in Afghanistan.
Sustainable peace in Afghanistan will only be possible if it is achieved through an inclusive, locally owned, participatory, and bottom-up approach that addresses the root causes of conflict. It must ensure access to inclusive and quality education, adequate health care systems, a vibrant civil society, religious freedom, and gender equality. GNWP urges the United Nations Security Council and the broader international community to take all necessary action to restore security and civil and constitutional order in Afghanistan, including by re-initiating talks for national reconciliation, meeting urgent humanitarian needs and protecting civil society activists.
Beijing+25: An Uphill Battle for the Women and Peace and Security and Youth and Peace and Security Agendas
Open Letter to the Representatives of the Core Group of the Generation Equality Global Forum: Permanent Mission of France; Permanent Mission of Mexico; UN Women Civil Society Division; and Civil Society Core Group Representatives
CC: The UN Secretary-General; UN Women Executive Director; UN Special Representative on Sexual Violence in Conflict; Security Council Informal Expert Group on Women and Peace and Security; Women and Peace and Security Focal Points Network; UN Inter Agency Standing Committee on Women and Peace and Security; UN Women Peace and Security Section; United Nations Population Fund; UN Development Program; the UN Secretary General Envoy on Youth; the Group of Friends on Women and Peace and Security; and the Global Coalition on Youth, Peace, and Security
Dear Core Group Members of the Generation Equality Global Forum,
We are grassroots women and youth peacebuilders, national, regional and global women’s rights and feminist organizations, and civil society networks from around the world who are working towards the full and effective implementation of the Women and Peace and Security, and Youth and Peace and Security agendas. Together we formed ourselves as the Beijing+25 Women and Peace and Security – Youth and Peace and Security (Beijing+25 WPS-YPS) Action Coalition to ensure the integration of the WPS and YPS agendas in the Beijing +25 Generation Equality Global Forum processes and outcome documents.
Moreover, the Beijing+25 WPS-YPS Action Coalition is committed to increasing the awareness of civil society organizations, in particular grassroots organizations working in conflict-affected countries and territories, about the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action and the various processes related to its 25th anniversary. This is critical to ensuring that civil society’s key messages are reflected in all discussions on Beijing +25, including the Generation Equality Global Forum and their outcome documents. The Beijing+25 WPS-YPS Action Coalition supports strong participation and co-leadership of women and young women from local communities affected by conflicts in the Beijing+25 processes.
2020 is a pivotal year for gender equality. The 25th anniversary of the Beijing Conference, the 20th anniversary of UN Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1325, and the 5th anniversary of UN Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 2250, are catalytic moments to move both the Women and Peace and Security and Youth and Peace and Security agendas forward. Therefore, we express deep concern over the lack of representation of grassroots women and youth peacebuilders and the marginalization of the WPS and YPS agendas in the Beijing+25 regional and global processes. We are alarmed about the lack of broad consultation with civil society in the development of the official Action Coalitions and cross-cutting levers of the Generation Equality Global Forum. We are seriously concerned that there is no official Action Coalition dedicated to peace and securityeven though evidence-based data shows armed conflict is inextricably linked to gender inequality.[1] The Secretary-General has identified the lack of peace and security as one of greatest threats to 21st century progress, and one of four priority focus areas for 2020.[2]
We, the undersigned organizations, offer our expertise, resources, and broad outreach in order for a WPS and YPS Action Coalition to be officially recognized. We present the following arguments on why there should be an official WPS and YPS Action Coalition:
1. Many grassroots women’s rights and youth organizations have found it impossible to participate in Beijing+25 processes due to lack of information, awareness, funding, capacity, access to internet, and language restrictions. For example, despite awareness of the limited number of women peacebuilders at the High-level Meeting on Progress in the Implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action in West Asia and despite expressed interest from women peacebuilders to participate, the organizers of the High-level meeting were unable to provide support in order for the women to contribute to this important discussion.
2. The marginalization and limited participation of women and youth peacebuilders has resulted in weak language on the WPS and YPS agendas in regional outcome documents. For example, the Arab Declaration on Progress in the implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action fails to highlight the importance of the meaningful participation of women and girls in all aspects of conflict prevention, relief and recovery, and peacebuilding. Similarly, the reports from the regional intergovernmental consultations in Africa[3] and Asia and the Pacific[4] lack specific recommendations on the effective implementation of the YPS agenda, particularly the involvement of young women and LGBTQIA+ youth in peace processes and political decision-making.
3. The official Action Coalitions and cross-cutting levers identified by UN Women—the key outcomes of the Generation Equality Global Forum—do not include a specific constituency working on WPS and YPS. The criteria for the official Action Coalitions developed by UN Women includes an assessment of the nature of the need to address the theme (whether the theme has proven deeply entrenched and persistent over the last 25 years) and the universality of the scope of the theme on women and girls around the world. It is undeniable that the issues at the intersection of the WPS and YPS agendas are urgent, persistent, prevalent and universal.
Twenty-five years after the adoption of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, armed conflict continues to be a major obstacle to the fulfilment of women’s rights and gender equality. In 2016, more countries experienced violent conflict than at any time in nearly 30 years. The risk of nuclear conflict is growing as key treaties on nuclear disarmament are increasingly under threat, and nuclear competition among countries is intensifying.[5] It has been established that the gendered impact of conflict increases the levels of sexual and gender-based violence, marginalization, and discrimination in varied forms experienced by girls, young women, LGBTQIA+ persons, and women. In addition, research shows that a state’s level of gender equality can serve as a predictor of armed conflict, whether measuring conflict between states or within states.[6] Therefore, conflict prevention, sustainable peace, gender equality, and women’s empowerment are inextricably linked. Moreover, Women and Armed Conflict is enshrined as one of the critical areas of concern in the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action[7].
The announcement of the official list of Action Coalitions states that “the context of conflict could be incorporated within the theme on Gender-Based Violence.”[8]We believe that discussing peace and security only through the framework of gender-based violence will not reflect the depth and breadth of issues covered by the WPS and YPS agendas, including women and youth’s meaningful participation in peace processes and political decision-making; conflict prevention and disarmament; and prevention of violent extremism. In addition, with a limited number of two to three specific actions per official Action Coalition that will be resourced, committed to, implemented, and monitored, it is likely that WPS and YPS priorities and challenges will be overlooked. The Generation Equality Global Forum cannot lead into the full realization of the gender equality agenda if peace and security issues are not accurately reflected; and women and youth peacebuilders are not able to meaningfully participate and influence how the Beijing+25 processes and outcomes are shaped.
We call on you as the Core Group Members of the Generation Equality Global Forum to designate Women and Peace and Security and Youth and Peace and Security as one of the official Action Coalitions. We stand ready to work with all stakeholders to create channels for the effective participation of women and youth peacebuilders in Beijing+25 processes.
We also call on Member States, UN officials, UN entities, institutions, and organizations copied in this open letter, fellow civil society actors, and everyone who supports the full and effective implementation of the Women and Peace and Security and Youth and Peace and Security agendas to join us in this call.
We cannot allow the Women and Peace and Security and Youth and Peace and Security agendas to be marginalized. We cannot allow women and youth peacebuilders and gender equality activists in conflict-affected communities to be invisible.
Sincerely,
The Beijing+25 Women and Peace and Security – Youth and Peace, and Security Action Coalition
1.
Arab Renaissance for Democracy and Development (ARDD)
Jordan
2.
Alamal Association
Iraq
3.
Amassuru
Brazil
4.
Asia-Pacific Human Rights Information Center
Latin America and the Caribbean
5.
Asia-Pacific Women’s Alliance for Peace and Security
Asia and the Pacific
6.
Asian Youth Peace Network
Bangladesh
7.
Associa-Med
Tunisia
8.
Afghan Women Welfare and Development Association (AWWDA)
Afghanistan
9.
1325 Action Group
Nepal
10.
Asian-Pacific Resource and Research Centre for Women (ARROW)
Asia and the Pacific
11.
Azerbaijan National Committee of Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly
Azerbaijan
12.
BWPD (Burundian Women for Peace and Development)
Netherlands
13.
Benimpuhwe Organisation
Rwanda
14.
Balay Mindanaw
Philippines
15.
BrightPoint
Afghanistan
16.
Better World NGO
Iraq
17.
Business for Peace Community Development Foundation
United States
18.
Canadian Council of Young Feminists (CCYF)
Canada
19.
Centre de Développement Communautaire
Democratic Republic of Congo
20.
Collectif des Associations et ONG Féminines du Burundi (CAFOB)
Burundi
21.
Centre Bamamu Tabulukayi
Democratic Republic of Congo
22.
Canadian Voice of Women for Peace
Canada
23.
Cordaid
Netherlands/Global
24.
Center for Civil Society and Democracy CCSD
Syria
25.
CEIPAZ-Fundación Cultura de Paz
Spain
26.
Coalition for Action 1325 (CoAct 1325)
Uganda
27.
Corporación de Investigación y Acción Social y Económica (CIASE)
Colombia
28.
Center for Peace Education (Miriam College)
Philippines
29.
Cadre Permanent de Concertation de la Femme Congolaise CAFCO
Democratic Republic of Congo
30.
Democracy Today
Armenia
31.
Democracy Development Center
Ukraine
32.
Eve Organization on Women Development
South Sudan and Uganda
33.
Escola de Cultura de Pau, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona
Spain
34.
Femmes Juristes pour les droits de la femme et de l’enfant
Democratic Republic of Congo
35.
Foreign Policy Association (APE)
Moldova
36.
Fontaine ISOKO
Burundi
37.
Gender Action for Peace and Security (GAPS) – UK
UK
38.
Global Network of Women Peacebuilders (GNWP)
Global
39.
Green Hope Foundation
Canada
40.
Gender Centru
Moldova
41.
Global Partnership for the Prevention of Armed Conflict GPPAC
Global
42.
Global Shapers Alexandira
Egypt
43.
Institute for International Women’s Rights-Manitoba
Canada
44.
IDP Women’s Association Consent
Georgia
45.
I am She Network
Syria
46.
International Center for Religion and Diplomacy
Global
47.
Inclusive Society
France
48.
Iraqi Women’s Network
Iraq
49.
Jago Nari Unnayon Sangstha
Bangladesh
50.
Luwero Women Development Association
Uganda
51.
Middle East and North Africa Partnership for Preventing Armed Conflict (MENAPPAC)
MENA region
52.
Messengers of Peace Liberia
Liberia
53.
National Organization of Women
Sierra Leone
54.
Naripokkho
Bangladesh
55.
Nile basin discourse forum (NBDF)
Rwanda
56.
NGO Working Group on Women and Youth in the Great Lakes Region
Great Lakes Region
57.
National Network for Beijing Review
Nepal
58.
National Organization for Women (NOW)
Sri Lanka
59.
Nobel Women’s Initiative
Global
60.
Our Generation for Inclusive Peace
Global
61.
Operation 1325 (Sweden)
Sweden
62.
Permanent Peace Movement (PPM)
Lebanon
63.
Rwanda Climate Change and Development Network (RCCDN)
Rwanda
64.
Rural Women Peace Link
Kenya
65.
Red Nacional de Mujeres
Colombia
66.
Rwanda Women Network
Rwanda
67.
Saathi
Nepal
68.
Synergie des Associations Feminines du Congo (Synergy of Congolese Women’s Associations/ SAFECO)
Democratic Republic of Congo
69.
Synergie des Femmes pour les Victimes des Violences (SFVS)
Democratic Republic of Congo
70.
Teso Women Peace Activists
Uganda
71.
Together We Build It
Libya
72.
Think Peace
Mali
73.
Total Women’s Development and Unity Centre (RUWDUC)
Nepal
74.
United Network of Young Peacebuilders (UNOY)
Global
75.
Unity for the Future
Ukraine
76.
UN Major Group on Youth and Children
Bangladesh
77.
West African Network for Peacebuilding (WANEP)- Nigeria
Nigeria
78.
Women International League for Freedom
Germany
79.
Women, Peace, and Security Network – Canada
Canada
80.
WO=MEN Dutch Gender Platform
The Netherlands
81.
“Women in Public Service” Center
Albania
82.
Women’s Information Center
Georgia
83.
Women Problem Research Union WPRU
Azerbaijan
84.
Women’s Association for Rational Development (WARD)
Azerbaijan
85.
Women’s NGO Secretariat of Liberia (WONGOSOL)
Liberia
86.
Women for A Change
Cameroon
87.
Women’s Empowerment Organization
Iraq
88.
Women International League for Freedom
DRC
89.
Wi’am Center
Palestine
90.
Women’s International Peace Center
Uganda
91.
Women’s Resource Center
Armenia
92.
Women, Peace and Security Network – Canada
Canada
93.
Young peacemakers in Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan
94.
Young Women for Peace and Leadership
Bangladesh
95.
Young Women for Peace and Leadership
Democratic Republic of Congo
96.
Young Women for Peace and Leadership
Indonesia
97.
Young Women for Peace and Leadership
Philippines
98.
Young Women for Peace and Leadership
South Sudan
99.
Youth for Change and Development Organization
Afghanistan
100.
Zhiva Ya
Ukraine
Additional Endorsements (as of February 26, 2020)
1.
Afghan Women News Agency Organization
Afghanistan
2.
Alianza por la Solidaridad
Spain
3.
Asia-Pacific Women’s Watch
Asia-Pacific
4.
Association Adéquations
France
5.
Association Dea Dia – Serbia
Serbia
6.
Association for Behaviour and Knowledge Transformation (ABKT)
Pakistan
7.
Asia – Pacific Women’s Alliance for Peace and Security (APWAPS)
Asia and the Pacific
8.
Association of War Affected Women (AWAW)
Sri Lanka
9.
Edith Ballantyne, former Secretary-General and President of Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom – International
Czech Republic/Canada/Switzerland
10.
Buddhist Tzu Chi Foundation
USA
11.
Cora Weiss, International Peace Bureau (IBP) UN Representative
USA
12.
Centro de Estudios e Investigacion sobre Mujeres (CEIM)
Spain
13.
Collectif des Femmes Rurales pour le Développement (COFERD)
Democratic Republic of Congo
14.
Ambassador Anwarul K. Chowdhury, Former Under- Secretary-General and High Representative of the UN, Initiator of the conceptual breakthrough for UNSCR 1325 as the Security Council President in March 2000, Founder of the Global Movement for The Culture of Peace (GMCoP)
[1] Buvinic, M., Das Gupta, M. Casabonne, U, and Verwimp. Violent Conflict and Gender Inequality: An Overview. Households in Conflict Network. The Institute of Development Studies at the University of Sussex. 2012. See also Focus: Women, Gender and Armed Conflict in Austrian Development Cooperation. 2009.
